Flyin' To The Hoop: Monday Standouts

The final day of Flyin' To The Hoop saw some impressive performances to wrap up the event. In this article we'll break down the standout performers from the final day of action.    Manhertz was going off against Iowa United Prep in a 20 point win, scoring 30 points without attempting a free throw. That's because Manhertz is a bucket, plain and simple. The lefty wing is an elite shooter with the positional size to shoot over defenders. Knocking down 8/12 3-pointers, Manhertz was making it rain on Monday afternoon. Already with a final three schools posted, Manhertz appears ready to make a decision sooner rather than later.     In a highly competitive small school battle, Smith and Dayton Northridge survived a thrilling contest over Margaretta to continue their terrific season. One of the elite defenders in the 2028 class, Smith has active hands and flies around the court. A monster athlete in transition, Smith threw down a breakaway dunk that got the strong local crowd going crazy. Smith also was unable to be stopped at the point of attack, drawing 15 free throw attempts. Smith has to make improvements as a perimeter shooter, going 7/15 from the charity stripe and 0/4 from 3-point range with multiple airballs. The fact he's so productive despite the shooting struggles is remarkable, but Smith will need to start making outside shots by the time EYBL 16 U play comes around.     I was impressed by the Polar Bears effort as they stayed close throughout the game, falling short in the final minute. Bailey is a solid athlete who moves well in the open court and knocked down multiple mid-range jumpers. Bailey also secured seven rebounds and was one of two Margaretta players to play all 32 minutes. In the closing seconds Bailey made a layup off a backdoor cut that would've given Margaretta the lead. However his shot was waived off due to a charge call, one of a few questionable calls in the final minute of the game. Despite the loss, Margaretta is still one of the top Division V teams in Ohio and have the talent to make a deep run this year.     Really impressive comeback by Utah Prep as they trailed by double digits for a long stretch between the second and fourth quarter. The final six minutes is when Felesi and Utah Prep took over. A monster athlete in transition, Felesi gets above the rim effortlessly and threw down some of the best dunks I saw all weekend. In the half court, Felesi is patient and doesn't force the issue at all. Playing the full 32 minutes as a primary creator with only one turnover is very impressive. If Felesi can knock down 3-pointers consistently, he'll quickly get on NBA radars.     The host Firebirds got a crucial win over a northeast Ohio Division IV powerhouse. Ralston was the lone Fairmont player with a positive assist to turnover ratio on Monday, making smart decisions with the basketball while playing all but 31 seconds in the game. Showing his ability to score for himself, Ralston had a 3-pointer just before the first quarter buzzer and had a couple strong drive and finishes off the bounce. Every season Fairmont is organized and tough, which gives them a chance in almost every game they play. Currently sitting tied for second in the GWOC, the Firebirds still have all their goals available to achieve as the regular season winds down.     Despite the tough loss, Warrensville Heights showed some promise on Monday evening with a strong team effort. Billingslea led the team in scoring with 16 points, knocking down five 3-pointers. A prospect you need to keep track of when he's off the ball, Billingslea is confident enough to fire away a few feet behind the 3-point line. While I was extremely impressed with Billingslea's perimeter shooting, I want to see him impact the game in other ways as he continues to develop as a player and athlete.

The final day of Flyin' To The Hoop saw some impressive performances to wrap up the event. In this article we'll break down the standout performers from the final day of action.